Suspended BJP MP on dharna against weak Lokayukta

Braving inclement weather and rains,suspended BJP MP Rajan Sushant held a day-long fast at Shimlas historic Ridge on Thursday to protest against what he termed as a toothless Lokayukta bill that was introduced in the state Assembly on Wednesday.

Braving inclement weather and rains,suspended BJP MP Rajan Sushant held a day-long fast at Shimlas historic Ridge on Thursday to protest against what he termed as a toothless Lokayukta bill that was introduced in the state Assembly on Wednesday. Flanked by a large number of supporters and representatives of the Himachal Lokhit Party (HLP) and Team Anna activists,Sushant said that if the bill was passed in the same form by the Assembly on Friday,he would launch a mass movement against the states BJP government.

The proposed legislation is aimed at creating fear psychosis in the minds of the complainants as its prescribing a punishment of one year and heavy penalty if the complaint is found to be frivolous, he said.

The MP said the institution proposed in the state will be ineffective as most of the powers to act against corruption are with the government itself. This will provide illegitimate protection to corrupt people rather than to punish them,he added. If Karnataka and Uttarakhand can give more teeth to their Lokayuktas,why not this state? he asked.

When Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal was asked for his reaction,he said:  Everyone has a right to give his/her views on the proposed legislation. Its because of these reasons that the government had put the draft bill on the official website of the Home department and a lot of people had sent in their comments.